Argentine scientists uncover over forty new species during deep-sea expedition

For three weeks, millions of viewers followed live an unprecedented scientific mission led by researchers from Argentina’s National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), as part of the expedition Underwater Oases of Mar del Plata Canyon: Continental Slope IV. The scientists explored the Mar del Plata submarine canyon, a zone of high biodiversity located some 300 kilometres off the coast, reaching depths of up to 3,900 metres, according to BRICSLat, a partner of TV BRICS.

For the first time, an Argentine scientific campaign was broadcast live, allowing audiences to watch in real time as the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) SuBastian captured images of life on the ocean floor and collected samples without disturbing the environment. During the dives, the team documented more than forty potential new species, including corals, sea urchins, anemones, snails and sea cucumbers.

The team, led by Daniel Lauretta, a researcher at the Bernardino Rivadavia Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences (MACN-CONICET), emphasised the importance of this mission for understanding the biodiversity of the South Atlantic. The collected samples will be analysed at CONICET laboratories, a process that could take months or even years.

“Almost half of Argentina’s territory lies beneath the Atlantic, and those seabeds are full of resources and life we still know little about. Exploring these areas is essential for understanding and protecting them,” Lauretta said.

More than thirty researchers from CONICET and several national universities took part in the expedition, which marked a turning point in Argentina’s marine exploration and in the public’s engagement with science.

BRICS countries are actively exploring the ocean depths. Earlier,  Guancha, a partner of TV BRICS, reported that Chinese scientists have developed a manoeuvrable underwater robot named Turtle, measuring around 70 centimetres in diameter. The device will be used to study the seabed and was created by a team led by Professor Wang Gang from Harbin Engineering University.

Near the city of Taposiris Magna on Egypt’s northern coast, archaeologists have discovered the remains of a vast submerged port. The ancient harbour includes stone structures over six metres high, columns, concrete blocks, and remnants of anchors and amphorae from the Ptolemaic era. Excavations in the area have been conducted as part of the search for Cleopatra’s tomb, according to Bolivia TV, a partner of TV BRICS.

Photo: ARE Visual (Andrew R Emery) / iStock